USA sets deadlines in Venezuela oil sanctions

International Brent crude oil futures were up $1.01, or 1.7 percent, at $61.85 per barrel around 11 a.m. ET (1400 GMT). U.S.

Venezuela pumped 1.2 million barrels a day of crude in December, a decline of nearly 50 percent in four years, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude prices ended Thursday's trading session down 44 cents, at $53.79 a barrel, after hitting a two-month high of $55.37/Bbl, Kallanish Energyreports.

The price climbed to its highest of the day after General Electric Co's Baker Hughes energy services firm revelead that U.S. energy firms had cut the number of oil rigs in operation for the a fourth week in the past five, bringing the total to its lowest since last June. Last week's data showed the rig count in January fell the most in a month since April 2016.

Oil prices rose by about three per cent on Friday on the back of news that United States job growth had been greater than expected, despite the government's month-long shutdown.

Liverpool defender Joe Gomez may need surgeryAsked to comment on Walker's tweet, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said he would never take pleasure from the slip-ups of a rival. They then travel to Everton on Wednesday for a re-arranged fixture before hosting Chelsea the following Sunday.

European governments are also considering sanctions, which would cut off Venezuela's ability to do business in euros as well.

Some relief especially to US refiners may come in the form of Canadian heavy crude, despite infrastructure constraints between the two countries.

Global markets were supported as U.S. President Donald Trump tweeted on Thursday that he would meet Chinese President Xi Jinping soon to try to seal a comprehensive trade deal. But Trump later warned he could postpone talks if a deal remains elusive.

"Many traders recognize that sense is likely to prevail and a deal will be struck after the summit - although the shape of any deal will continue to drive a jittery market", Cantor Fitzgerald Europe said in a note.

According to a press agency survey report revealed on Thursday, the 31st of January, the OPEC oil supply had dropped in to two-year low, as Saudi Arabia and its crude producing gulf allies had curbed the crude oil production despite chance of losing market stake in a near-term outlook in order to balance the crude oil price and crude oils from Iran, Libya and Venezuela had not been reaching the refineries due to U.S. sanctions. A Reuters poll showed that OPEC pumped 30.98 million barrels per day (bpd) in January, down 890,000 bpd from December.

The United States will soften sanctions on Venezuelan state-owned oil company PDVSA if Caracas transfers control over the company to opposition leader Juan Guaido or any democratically elected government, the US Treasury Department said on Friday.

Missouri officials slam 'unjust' NCAA penalties, vow to appeal
In its report on Mizzou, the NCAA drew a distinction from a case involving "paper courses" taken by athletes at North Carolina . According to the NCAA bylaws , Bryant could opt out of his Missouri commitment and play elsewhere without penalty. 2/03/2019

Iran says Europe's new trade mechanism is 'first step'
Iran has threatened to pull out of the deal unless the European powers make it possible for it to receive economic benefits. The EU also added two Iranian individuals and an Iranian intelligence unit to its terrorist list. 2/02/2019

Amazon sales, profit top estimates as retail, advertising soar
Revenue of $72.4bn was up 20 per cent from last year's $60.5bn Q4 haul, beating financial analysts' expectations by $500m. Its market cap, more than $840bn as of Thursday afternoon, is the largest of any publicly traded company in the world. 2/02/2019

India Keeps Oil Trade With Venezuela
The API reported late Wednesday afternoon that US crude oil inventories rose by 6.6 million barrels for the week-ended January 18. Steered by Saudi Arabia, OPEC and its allies are cutting production to contain a global oil surplus and bolster crude prices. 2/02/2019

Mother in subway fall had pre-existing medical condition
When emergency responders arrived at the subway station on Monday night, Goodson was unconscious and unresponsive, police said . Police have said that it is not clear if Ms Goodson passed away due to the fall, or if she suffered from a medical condition. 2/02/2019

World stocks surge on Fed pledge to pause, dollar slips
It also said it could alter the pace of its balance sheet reduction "in light of economic and financial developments". The S&P 500 index was up 41.05 points at 2,681.05, while the Nasdaq composite was up 154.79 points at 7,183.08. 2/01/2019

Temperature breaks record in northern IL
In Minneapolis, residents woke up Thursday to another day that started with temperatures in the negative double digits. One death involved an elderly IL man whose body was found hours after he had fallen trying to get back into his home. 2/01/2019